Gleason Grade Helps Determine Prostate Cancer Aggressiveness

The Gleason grade is obtained from the pathologist’s examination of the core samples extracted during the prostate biopsy. The pathologist will assign a number 1 through 5 which describes the grade of the most common type of pattern of cancerous cells. A score of 1 is a well differentiated sample while a score of 5 is a poorly differentiated sample. The pathologist then assigns another 1 through 5 to describe the second most common type of pattern of cancerous cells. When these two numbers are added together, they create the Gleason score which indicates the aggressiveness of their prostate cancer.